Shock absorbing device for a boat seat

ABSTRACT

A shock absorbing device for a boat seat supported by a link system to move vertically downwardly against the action of spring means and damping means cooperating with the link system to damp upward and downward movements of the seat.

I United States Patent 1151 3,638,896 Lindstrom 51 Feb. 1, 1972 [54]SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR A [56] References Cited B AT SEA 0 T UNITEDSTATES PATENTS [72] g Linds'mm' Rmkncby 1,404,031 1/1922 Kelman....24x/4o0 x we 2.546.268 3/1951 Legris ..248/399 [22] Filed: May 19,1970 2,953,l9l 9/1960 Brendcl .248/399 [2l] Appl. No.1 38,732 PrimaryExaminerWilliam H. Schultz Attorney-Young 8L Thompson [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data ABSTRACT May 22, 1969 Sweden ..7227 A Shockabsorbing device for a boat Scat supported by a link system to movevertically downwardly against the action of [52] U.S.Cl ..248/399 Springmeans and damping means cooperating with the link 5 system to dampupward and downward movements of the seat.

1e o are 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 8 -8 19 I -17 u 5 J I u :I

PATENTED FEB 11972 IN VEN TOR.

da/m/ M'P/VE/P Z //v05 71PM BY SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR A BOAT SEATThe present invention relates to a shock absorbing device for a boatseat supported by means of a linkage system having transverse pivot axesand adapted to permit vertical downward movements of the seat againstthe action of a pressure spring means located between the seat frame anda base supporting the linkage system.

Motorboats, when travelling at high speed, are regularly subject toviolent blows and shocks as a result of the effect of waves against thehull of the vessel. Such shocks are particularly manifest in choppywater and are in part propagated to the seats of the boat, causingdiscomfort and, on occasion, pain to persons seated therein.

The present invention provides a shock absorbing device for a boat seatwhich reduces the shocks which are being transmitted to the occupantsthereof. The device according to the invention is characterized in thatthe linkage system comprises a forward pair of parallel spaced link armspivotable at their lower ends about a first common pivot axis and arearward pair of parallel spaced link arms pivotable at their lower endsabout a second pivot axis, the lower ends of the link arms at one sideof the seat being interconnected by a synchronizing link member so as toprovide synchronous movements up and down of the forward and therearward pairs of link arms, the upper ends of the link arms beinghingedly connected to the seat frame through link members and the upperend portions of the link arms which are connected through link rods withthe ends of a lever arm which is journaled between its ends on asupporting member secured to the seat frame.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a boat seatprovided with a shock absorbing device according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the shock absorbing device seen from the oppositeside to that shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a back view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

FIG. 4 is a separate view of a number of elements which according toFIG. 1 are effective in retarding upward movement of the boat seat.

In the drawing, numeral 1 designates a base plate which is preferably ofa nonmagnetic material. Secured to the base plate are two bearingbrackets 2a, 2b for a linkage system supporting a seat frame 7 with theseat so as to permit vertical movements of the seat.

A pressure spring means 20, FIG. 3, in the form of a helical coil springis located between the seat frame 7 and the base plate 1 to retarddownward movements of the seat.

The linkage system comprises a forward pair of parallel spaced link arms3a, 3b which at their lower ends are pivotable about a first commonpivot axis 3c. There is also a rearward pair of parallel spaced linkarms 3d, 3e, which at their lower ends are pivotable about a secondcommon pivot axis 3f.

The upper ends of the arms 3a, 3b are connected by a horizontal shaftmember 33, and the upper ends of the arms 3d, 3e are connected by ahorizontal shaft member 3h.

As will be seen from FIG. 1 the lower ends of the link arms 3a, 3d atone side of the seat are formed with lugs 4a, 4b which are directed inthe same sense of rotation about the pivot axis 30 and 3f, respectively.The lugs 4a, 4b are interconnected by a synchronizing link member 4 soas to provide synchronous movements up and down of the forward and therearward pairs of link arms as will be understood from the drawing.

The upper ends of the link arms are journaled by means of the members 3gand 3/1 in bearing members 5 attached to transverse plates 6, 6a whichare hinged by means of hinge members 8 to the frame 7 of the seat toform link members between the frame 7 and the link arms 3a, 3b, 3d, Be.

In order to prevent horizontal movement of the seat frame 7, the upperend portions of the link arms 3a and 3d are connected through link rods19, 19a with the ends of a lever arm 17 which is journaled between itsends at 17a on a supporting member 17b secured to the seat frame 7.

In order to damp upward movements of the seat the two link arms 3a, 3dat one side of the seat cooperate with two elastic bushings 16, 16amounted on a substantially horizontal rod 13. Each bushing is locatedbetween two washers 12 and 15 on the rod, the outer washer 12 beingmounted on the adjacent link arm 3a and 3d, respectively, by means of apin 12a rotatably mounted in the link arm. The washers 12 have a centerhole to permit the rod 13 to slide freely therein. The other washers 15are adjustable to any desired position along the rod 13 by means of nuts14 to obtain any desired initial compression of the bushings 16, 16a.

In order to damp downward movements of the seat each of the two linkarms 3e, 3b, FIG. 2, at one side of the seat pivotally support a curvedbuffer arm 9 and 90, respectively, extending downwardly and having itssubstantially horizontal free end resting on an elastic buffer member 10and 10a. The free ends of the two buffer arms may be pressed downwardlyby a common adjusting means in the form of a nut Ila screwed on a screw11 secured to the plate 1 so as to vary the initial compression of thebuffer members 10 and 100.

Thus the damp members 16, 16a and 10, 10a are easily adjustable for theweight of the person using the seat and for ob taining any desireddamping effect.

What I claim is:

1. A shock absorbing device for a boat seat supported by means of alinkage system having transverse pivot axes and adapted to permitvertical downward movements of the seat against the action of a pressurespring means located between the seat frame and a base supporting thelinkage system, characterized in that the linkage system comprises aforward pair of parallel spaced link arms pivotable at their lower endsabout a first common pivot axis and a rearward pair of parallel spacedlink arms pivotable at their lower ends about a second common pivotaxis, the lower ends of the link arms at one side of the seat beinginterconnected by a synchronizing link member so as to providesynchronous movements up and down of the forward and the rearward pairsof link arms, the upper ends of the link arms being hingedly connectedto the seat frame through link members and the upper end portions of thelink arms which are connected through link rods with the ends of a leverarm which is journaled between its ends on a supporting member securedto the seat frame.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that upward movementsof the two link arms at one side of the seat are damped by means of twoelastic bushings mounted on a substantially horizontal rod, each bushingbeing located between two washers on the rod, the outer washer beingmounted on the adjacent link arm and having a center hole to permit therod to slide freely therein, whereas the other washer is adjustable toany desired position along the rod to obtain any desired initialcompression of the elastic bushings.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the twolink arms at one side of the seat pivotally support a buffer armextending downwardly and having its free lower end portion resting on anelastic buffer member, the free ends of the two buffer arms beinglocated adjacent each other and subjected to the action of commonadjusting means provided to enable a desired initial pressure of the twobuffer arms on the elastic buffer member.

1. A shock absorbing device for a boat seat supported by means of alinkage system having transverse pivot axes and adapted to permitvertical downward movements of the seat against the action of a pressurespring means located between the seat frame and a base supporting thelinkage system, characterized in that the linkage system comprises aforward pair of parallel spaced link arms pivotable at their lower endsabout a first common pivot axis and a rearward pair of parallel spacedlink arms pivotable at their lower ends about a second common pivotaxis, the lower ends of the link arms at one side of the seat beinginterconnected by a synchronizing link member so as to providesynchronous movements up and down of the forward and the rearward pairsof link arms, the upper ends of the link arms being hingedly connectedto the seat frame through link members and the upper end portions of thelink arms which are connected through link rods with the ends of a leverarm which is journaled between its ends on a supporting member securedto the seat frame.
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized inthat upward movements of the two link arms at one side of the seat aredamped by means of two elastic bushings mounted on a substantiallyhorizontal rod, each bushing being located between two washers on therod, the outer washer being mounted on the adjacent link arm and havinga center hole to permit the rod to slide freely therein, whereas theother washer is adjustable to any desired position along the rod toobtain any desired initial compression of the elastic bushings.
 3. Adevice accoRding to claim 2, characterized in that each of the two linkarms at one side of the seat pivotally support a buffer arm extendingdownwardly and having its free lower end portion resting on an elasticbuffer member, the free ends of the two buffer arms being locatedadjacent each other and subjected to the action of common adjustingmeans provided to enable a desired initial pressure of the two bufferarms on the elastic buffer member.